Natural Health Support For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Owing to its bright yellow hue and a distinct taste, turmeric is used as a colouring agent and flavour enhancer in a variety of dishes. Although it is slightly astringent and bitter in taste, the same gets subsided when you pair it with other spices. You will find ground turmeric resting proudly on the kitchen shelves of almost all the households in various parts of India.
Turmeric for Health And Wellness
It is not only the culinary benefits that make turmeric all that popular, but also its curative properties. Turmeric possesses a wide range of healing properties and therapeutic benefits, owing to which it is celebrated and highly revered by Ayurveda and Chinese System of medication, two prominent systems of traditional and alternative healthcare systems. These properties include anti bacterial, anti analgesic, antioxidant, anti fungal, disinfectant, etc. The benefits are not only hearsay, but tried and tested by people across the world. Perhaps that explains why turmeric is being increasingly embraced by modern medicine as wonder of an herb. It is being used as a prominent ingredient in a variety of healthcare products. In fact, owing to its anti-tumour properties, it is even making appearance in a number of healthcare research projects worldwide, to determine its potential in curing cancer.
Turmeric – An Age Old Natural Herb for Anti – Inflammation
Turmeric, however, is especially known for its incredible anti inflammatory properties. Now, there are a variety of issues that are directly or indirectly associated with inflammation. These include the likes of gastrointestinal problems, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis and menstrual cramps.
Turmeric is not only better than using commercial anti-inflammatory medicines or ointments, but is also considered much effective in the long run. In fact, a variety of joint pain relief medicines can be found to contain turmeric as one of the ingredients. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory profile can be owed to the presence of this bioactive compound called Curcumin. This compound works by regulating / blocking the activity of enzymes and cytokines in our body that contribute towards relieving the inflammation.
Turmeric for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Turmeric has proved to be incredibly effective in providing relief from the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. RA is a long-term autoimmune condition that causes chronic inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints. There are several treatment options that are aimed at providing relief from the severity of RA symptoms. Apart from medications and NSAIDs, physical therapies are also becoming increasingly common. In rare cases, doctors may even recommend joint surgeries and medical procedures to reduce the pain and discomfort to some extent.
The regular usage of turmeric in one form or the other helps provide relief from stiffness, soreness and swelling, besides chronic pain and discomfort being experienced by the arthritis patients. In fact, curcumin not only reduces the severity of the symptoms, but also goes a long way in preventing their onset. Compared to commercial anti inflammatory drugs thronging the market that claim to provide immediate relief, curcumin promises a long-term improvement. Besides, it serves as a safe, natural and efficient means of alternative treatment, not only for RA but various other joint conditions, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, etc.
Incorporating Turmeric in Daily Life
It is usually available as a whole root or powdered form, although the latter is much easier to use. You could directly include it in a variety of meals, including curries, soups and dry vegetables. You can also prepare a nice, warm cup of herbal tea using some grated ground turmeric, or use turmeric teabags available in the market for the same. In order to increase the bioavailability of curcumin, you could add some black pepper to your dish or beverage.
However, in order to reap maximum benefits, you might want to use something that contains the curcumin in large amounts. In that case, you could always consume curcumin based dietary supplements, which usually comes in the form of capsules or tablets.
Other Health Benefits of Turmeric
- Turmeric reduces and regulates cholesterol levels, and provides protective benefits in case of cardiovascular disease
- It essentially boosts your cognitive ability.
- It also aids digestion and provides liver support, besides reducing intestinal permeability.
- Moreover, Turmeric contains some promising skincare and skin-brightening properties
- Application of its paste helps in getting rid of unwanted body hair
- It helps in case of cough and congestion
- Turmeric is also an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Dietary Fibre.
Watch Video: Agni – Ayurveda Digestion Mantra
About the Author:
Dr Sonica Krishan is Author and Speaker in the areas of Healthy and Joyous Living through Ayurveda, Meditation, Yoga and other Contemplative practices. She is a leading Ayurveda Professional in India. She is also Health Writer, Columnist, Editor, Ayurveda Consultant and Holistic Healing Coach. Dr Sonica is open for National as well as International Collaborations with interested people / institutions in fields of Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga.
Dr Sonica Krishan’s Books are available at Amazon
Related Blogs:
Ayurveda Remedies for Arthritis – Ayurveda Herb Guggulu for Joint Pains
Living With Joint Pains And Arthritis